Learning Foreign Languages Naturally

How often we hear it said that children are like sponges. That’s a big benefit to learning languages early on. Especially if they can be in an environment as they are learning, where they are able to join in conversation.

We all know that children learn best by learning and doing. So naturally, when it comes to learning a foreign language we want to encourage them to learn one that they can use. We want to engage them in activities where they have the opportunity to learn. You start by using simple words and phrases to start. Our kids have lots to do; I know mine are always super busy! That means when we start teaching a language we need to also begin speaking it right away. Reading and writing the new language can come later. Whatever our children are learning, we want them to be confident in it and that confidence will come from them using what they’ve learned, as often as they can. It’s important to keep in mind that anything that our children are learning is most easily learned when linked to an activity. Vocabulary lists don’t do any good alone themselves, when our children learn something that matters, and it is learned in context, it is more likely that they remember them.

You can start off by using simple conversation and useful phrases. Or how about a song that helps them learn a particular phrase? Whatever you teach, make sure it is something useful! Think about what your children enjoy talking about and start there.

Next you can move onto typical daily needs, their family and life (what we do), how they feel, what they like and dislike. How about their interests? My son was thrilled to get a list via email of his favorite superhero names in Mandarin Chinese. It is also good for them to know how to ask questions; getting information helps us in conversation right?

As they understand and become more comfortable with the phrases they have learned and and get used to using them, in time, they will begin to make their own phrases and further developing their speaking abilities.

You could make a checklist as well. Remember, our goal is for our children to be able to engage in conversation with others naturally. We also want them to be able to share the things that are important to them, with others. Keep it simple. Remember when your children first began speaking? Use that as a model to guide you in your foreign learning.

There’s a fun game we like to play when we are learning about how to express feelings. One of us will pretend to be tired, hungry, mad or sad. One will say “What’s the matter?” and then others begin to guess by asking questions like; “Are you embarrassed?”, “Are you scared?” and “Are you excited?”. We take turns in this way so that we can use the words for the different feelings, while also showing how they can be expressed by others. This also allows us to learn how to respond to those who are feeling certain ways.

As a mom the most important things for me to know are phrases that encourage discussion and explanation. It also helps to be able to ask questions. Questions that are easily answered with a simple “yes” or “no” can be very helpful. I also want to be able to provide praise and direction as needed. Sometimes it is just a simple phrase like “well done” and other times it may be a phrase such as “It’s time to clean up.”

I know my children love to talk about the things they are doing and the ideas that they have. So, I like to make sure that what they are learning fits their situations and experiences. I like to have my own “checklist”, this is not something that I share with my kids, but just something to keep me on track. In this way I can plan and record what we are learning as well as what we need to learn. This can also be a basic outline of what they want to learn (like animals, foods or places to go); I can tailor this to my kid’s interests and at the same time include; colors, numbers, shapes, ways to greet a friend or say goodbye.

Numbers ~ how much, how many

Aphabet

Colors ~ What color is this?

Nouns ~ what is this? classification? plural forms?

Conjunctions ~ and, or ~ “is this a….or a…..”

Verbs ~ to be (I am), to have (I’ve got), questions like “Are you” or “Aren’t you?”

Presuppositions Place~ in, on, under, near ~ Where is it? Where are they?

Comments

If it’s not too late (and even if it is) you should play music and dialog in the desired second language from the time your child is an infant. That way when you start to formally introduce the language the sounds won’t be seen as strange. We live in China and my 2 1/2 year old son already knows that Chinese is a real language – he recognizes the sound patterns. When we play something in French he laughs because he thinks it’s gibberish. He treats Chinese like English – what he uses as he learns to communicate. His English is better because that’s what we mostly speak at home but since he’s heard Chinese from birth it’s more like he’s a one year old Chinese kid, not a 2 1/2 year old trying to learn another language.

Absolutely! Music is amazing when it comes to helping our kids to learn! We enjoy stories in the language we are studying too. There are great books for kids too that are in both languages so they can see side by side, the languages as they read. I definitely encourage music though as well! Great way to help the language and its patterns stick. Plus music is just plain fun!

Learning more than one language is a GREAT opportunity for children! We were able to accomplish this in an ideal way — ours growing up speaking 2 languages (from baby on), and we’re doing school in both languages (harder to find good material in German, so having to translate some or edit existing for worldview issues, etc.). Your list, however, will help me to introduce more languages to a little language-hungry brain. Thank you! 🙂

I grew up with some background in German; lived and studied overseas there for some time as well. It is hard to find good materials in German but I have located a couple really good ones through the years. Definitely good to teach them as much as they are willing to learn when they are young.